Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- RE Week 6 - Who do you say I am?
- Library News
- Upcoming Events
- Community Pantry
- Partners: Parenting Ideas
- Awards Term 1 Week 6 2021
- March Birthdays
- SCC Member Profiles
- Congratulations
- Photos - Yr 3/4 Excursion (AEC)
- Photos - Music
- TeamKids Birthday Flyer
- Merici College Open Day
- Tuggeranong Buffaloes Junior Rugby League Football Club
- TeamKids Holiday Program
- Holiday Happenings
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last week I had the privilege of attending a 3 day conference and retreat with 68 other Catholic Leaders from our Archdiocese. The influence from fruitful professional discussions that happen at these events cannot be underestimated, and I have come back to our beautiful school this week, inspired by what I have been part of and optimistic for what we can achieve here at St Thomas’.
One of the areas that we spent a significant amount of time on was the understanding and implementation of High Impact Teaching Practice across the school and achieving the Bold Goal “High Impact Teaching Practice is visible in every classroom”. This will be a focus for us over the next three years. It will be supported by Professional Learning Units of work and the School Leadership Team will be working closely with the teachers as they develop their skills in their classroom practice. The Leadership Team will be adopting an Instructional Leadership model to work in partnership with the teachers.
Parent Teacher Meetings
These will be happening in Week 8. If you haven’t already booked a time to come in and meet (or Zoom) with your child’s /rens teacher/s, here is the link to do so.
Bookings are open until 5pm next Thursday March 18th. This will then give the teachers ample time to prepare for the meetings. Interim reports regarding personal, social and learning behaviours will be coming home with your child/ren tomorrow and these are often a good starting place for a discussion about your child/ren when you meet with their teacher/s. I encourage all parents and carers to take up this opportunity to meet, as building a strong and positive relationship between home and school is so important for the education and wellbeing of our children.
Working Bee
This is one of the best community events that we have each year (besides the fete of course). It will be held on Sunday March 28th between 8:00am – 12 noon. It’s been 2 years since our last big Working Bee and we would love to see as many families come down to help out with the various jobs that need to be done to make our school environment even more beautiful than it is now. You can email the school to let us know that you can come, reply using this link
or fill in the sheet below. There will be pizza and cold drinks served from 11:45am and refreshments will be available throughout the morning.
Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP)
Any parent or carer who volunteers to assist in classrooms, with sporting teams, clothing pool, etc must have a WWVP and are required to have it with them when assisting at school. As with your driver’s licence renewal, your photo will be taken at Canberra Connect Office, and a card sent to you within a few weeks. There is no fee for this. Please ensure you renew your card online and when your new card arrives bring it into the school so it can be photocopied and a copy left on file here at school. The link for registering or renewing a WWVP card is below:
We are currently updating our register of volunteer WWVP cards. Next time you are in the front office please call in and we will photocopy your card, even if you have provided it in previous years. If your card has expired, and you have received an email from Access Canberra extending your expiry date, could you please forward this email to office.sttapkambah@cg.catholic.edu.au
Canteen Update
We are in to process of interviewing for a new canteen manager and planning for the canteen to reopen at the beginning of Term 2.
Second Hand Clothing Pool
Have you got an hour or two to spare each week/ fortnight? We are hoping to have a group of volunteer parents and carers to run the Second Hand Clothing Pool. All it requires is to come in at a time that suits you to sort and hang the donations and to fill orders that come in through the front office. If you are interested, please email or call Naomi in the front office. She will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Yours in partnership
Ursula Jamieson
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
RE Week 6 - Who do you say I am?
RE Week 6 - Who do you say I am?
Sacramental Enrolment
A reminder that Sacramental enrolment is happening next week Tuesday 16th - Friday 19th March during 6pm Mass. It is essential that enrolment forms for all sacraments be handed in at one of these weekday Masses. Alternately, you can attend the family prayer night on Tuesday at 6:30 pm in the church garden.
Harmony Day and Grandparents Day
A note was sent home with each child and the flyer is below. This note also contains information about our fundraiser for our partner school in Kenya. We appreciate your continued generosity and generous support for this charity.
Family Prayer Night
Fr Praveen has supported the call to hold a week of renewal in our church next week. All families are invited to attend Mass at 6pm on any evening Tuesday-Friday.
In addition, I will be holding a gentle time of prayer and reflection after Mass on Tuesday (approx. 6:60pm). The prayer will go for approximately 30 mins and will centre on what St Joseph teaches us about authentic relationships. I would encourage all families to step away from the daily speed of life and take some time for reflection and conversation. We will start outside in the garden and move through some reflections on the life of St Joseph and their relevance to our lives today and finish up with a personal/family reflection in the church. We would love to see as many of you there as possible.
Penny Vanzwol
REC
This week in Library we looked at the Catholic Social Teaching focus of the Common Good. The Common Good involves global cooperation. It is concerned with people working together to ensure that everyone has what they need to live a healthy and happy life. This connects with our fund raising opportunity for our partner school in Kenya. If you are interested in learning more about Global School Partners, please use the following link;
Penny Vanzwol
Teacher Librarian
Date |
Event |
Friday 12 March |
Yr 2 Assembly (Parents/Carers welcome) 2.30pm |
Monday 15 March |
Yr 2 Excursion (Botanical Gardens) 9:30am - 1:00pm |
Tuesday 16 March |
Mass for Sacrament Enrolments (6pm) Family Prayer Night for Sacrament Enrolment (6:30pm) |
Wednesday 17 March |
Mass for Sacrament Enrolments (6pm) |
Thursday 18 March |
Kinder Excursion (Arboretum) 9:30am - 1:00pm Year 1 Excursion (Reptile Museum) 9:30am - 12:40pm Mass for Sacrament Enrolments (6pm) |
Thank you to those families who have contributed to the Community Pantry previously. We are seeking donations as there are many families who could use a little extra love and support at this time. Any donations of meals you could provide would be most appreciated.
Awards this week.
Kinder | Holly Keeffe, Benjamin Jeffery Evie Andriunas, Thomas Housler |
Year 1 |
Tilly Bellato, Roland Ord |
Year 2 |
Oliver Greaney, Riley Clynch |
Year 3/4 |
Caitlin Hamilton, Bruno Odd |
Year 5/6 |
Ielyn Shaji, Cailtin Hackney-Britt, |
Principal's Special Award |
Georgia Meffert |
Cultural Award |
Lily Sanders |
Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who will cebebrate a birthday this week
Carl Jenkins
Hi, my name is Carl Jenkins and I have been with the SCC, on and off, since about 2014. Our family started at the school in 2012 with my son Noah, and we are now down to one (Darcie, year 5) at the school after Georgie finished Year 6 last year. I have always appreciated the sense of community at St Thomas – it’s part of what attracted us to the school in the first place, and it’s never disappointed since.
I got involved through a little project to install solar panels on the school roof way back in 2013 (in my day job I am a project manager), and I hoped to help in some way to make the school an even better place for our kids. I have been the Chair for the last couple of years, before that having roles as deputy chair and secretary. During that time a lot has changed, but the general theme has stayed the same – everything we do as a council has some benefit for our kids. When I’m not at work or running around after our 3 kids I try to get out and about on my road bike.
Michael Giacomin
Corinne Smith
Hello, my name is Corinne Smith. This will be my 3rd year on the SCC and prior to this I was on the fete committee. My daughter Holly is in 3/4J this year and a very enthusiastic Mini Vinnies participant. I also have a daughter in year 8 at St Clare’s who attended St Thomas for Primary School. When I am not at work I will generally be ferrying my children to a sporting commitment or crocheting (sometimes while waiting in a carpark for sport to end)
I joined the SCC to assist the school where I can and to help with rallying sponsorship for school events where possible.
Jacinta Bryce
I have enjoyed being on the School Community Council and have been the Class Parent Coordinator since joining when Verity was in Kinder. This year I have taken on the Secretary role. I enjoy being part of the school, being able to feedback parents’ issues/compliments and be involved in decision making.
St. Thomas the Apostle is a welcoming and supportive community. Last year I was unwell and I was inundated with support – from receiving frozen meals from the deep freeze made by families, and muffins from canteen, to novels to read from the library. It was amazing and tremendously helpful!
We enjoy being a walk away from school and look forward to when the girls can travel to school independently. On weekends I enjoy walking the dog, climbing Mt Arawang, exploring Canberra and attending local events, as well as trips to the coast to get some Vitamin Sea.
Congratulations to the Mathew Thomas family (Christie (5/6B and Anna 2B) on the birth of a new baby girl, Ailish.
Tuggeranong Buffaloes Junior Rugby League Football Club
Want to play Rugby for the local Kambah Team?
The Tuggeranong Buffaloes Junior Rugby League Football Club is looking for players.
Under 8's, Under 10's and Under 11's.
Register at playrugbyleague.com.au
If you need assistance with your registration please contact Bernie buffs.registrar@iinet.net.au or
if would like further information please contact the club secretary Jade at buffaloes.secretary@gmail.com.